Roles and Characteristics of Leaders and Managers in Sainsbury

This report discusses the different roles and characteristics of leaders and managers in Sainsbury, a major British multinational retailer. It also evaluates various models and theories of leadership and explores different approaches to operation management in the company.

Management
and
Operations

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LO1..................................................................................................................................................4
Definition and comparison of the different roles and characteristics of a leader and manager...4
Various functions of the managers and role of the leaders in the SAINSBURY........................5
LO2..................................................................................................................................................6
P2 Role of leader and function of the manager in different situational context..........................6
P3 Critically evaluate different models and theories...................................................................7
LO3 P4 Approaches of operation management in company...........................................................9
P5 Importance and values of operational management to gain objectives of business.............10
P6 Different factors of business environment that impacts on operation management and
decision-making process of leaders and....................................................................................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Management is the strategic approach that uses by company to keep it’s business
operations productive so that it enables to gain it’s all proposed objective within timeframe. In
other word, it is the process of planning, organizing, coordinating and controlling people and
resources in the business in order to gain it’s all projected objectives. To understand role of
operation and management has a great example of Sainsbury. It is a major British multinational
retailer company which is headquartered in UK. It operates in multiple countries across the
world. In this report will discuss over different roles of leaders and managers that perform in the
company. Furthermore, the brief study will provide great understanding about different traits of
leadership i.e. system, situational and contingency leadership in the report.
LO1
P1 Definition and comparison of the different roles and characteristics of a leader and manager
Manager
Manager is the person who posses’ ability to manage wide number of people in the
company in efficient manner. Manager helps company to set its vision and develops objectives
so that individuals can track them and gains projected vision within timeframe. However,
managers play various roles and functions in the company such as planning, organizing,
coordinating and supervising through which they enable to improve organization’s performance
as well as raises goodwill of the business in the business market (Adebiyi, Oyatoye and Amole,
2016).
Leaders
Leaders are those people who have ability to guide large number of people towards
common goal at the workplace. An ideal leader is not only motivated individuals to give high
performance in the workplace to communicate them effectively but also supports company to
deal with different situations to stay motivated staff. The main objective of the leader is to
influence and motivate number of people to lead productivity in their working which ultimately
improves company’s performance.

Difference between leaders and managers
Attributes Managers Leaders
Goals
Managers develops goal for the
business in order to improve
growth of busines in it’s sector.
While leaders create objectives
for the staff so that they follow
them and achieves proposed
goal in effective manner.
Strategy formation &
Implication
Manager formulates policies in
the context of employee’s
wellbeing and communicates
with leaders to discuss over
these policies.
On the other hand, leaders
directly communicate with
individuals to understand their
needs for the workplace and
improves their performance by
offering high standard working
place.
Focus on
Manager always focus on
organization’s productivity
instead of people so they
formulate such strategies
through which whole
organization gets benefits in the
business market (Boylan, 2016).
As compared, leaders focus on
the people only and develops
strategies like change
management, performance
management. These strategies
support leaders to keep
workforce more active which
ultimately brings sustainable
business performance in the
global market.
Various functions of the managers and role of the leaders in the SAINSBURY
Managers plays various functions in the company while leaders help managers to conduct
different functions in the company in the efficient manner. Functions are mentioned below:
 Planning

It is one of the major role ofmanagers which they conduct in the SAINSBURY Group plc to
create and implement different business strategies so that company achieves it’s projected
objectives on time. For example, managers of SAINSBURY plc have developed and
implemented numerous strategies in the company to bring high growth in revenue scale so that it
can enlisted on top supermarket companies. In this state, leaders have given high contribution in
implementing all proposed strategies by motivating and supporting number of people in the
workplace as well as maintains their wellbeing that is one of the main characteristics of leaders.
As resulted SAINSBURY have enlisted in top supermarket companies in the UK market.
 Organizing
It is another role of the managers that supports to use available resources in effective manner.
Resources are infrastructure, employees, equipment and others that organizes and utilizes by
managers in effectively so that company can achieve more benefits from them prolong time.
However, leaders also support managers to allocate different resources at the specified places in
the business which can utilize accordingly company’s needs. So it is another characteristic of the
leader.
 Directing
Managers delegates different tasks to the staff for managing all business functions in
SAINSBURY Group Plc. while leaders develop team and directs them how to complete different
tasks in a team.
 Staffing
It is another essential role of the managers and leaders that supports company to gain sustainable
growth in the business. Leaders and managers work together in the SAINSBURY plc to maintain
effectiveness of workforce in the workplace that is one of key characteristic of leaders (Cote,
2017). for example, managers recruit best talent for the designated posts through recruitment
program while leaders prepare new talents in such manner through which company can get
optimum benefits during peak period.
From the above discussion can be analysed that leader role’s and manager functions
always supports SAINSBURY to maintain it’s competitive positioning in the UK’s retail sector.

LO2
P2 Role of leader and function of the manager in different situational context
 Recruitment and induction of a new team member
Recruitment is the procedure of hiring right talents as per the company’s needs and requirements.
Whenever managers of SAINSBURY plans to conduct recruitment program then they adapt
classical management theory (Day, Gu and Sammons, 2016). So, managers formulate and leads
change in existing employment policy to attract best talents for the company so that best
outcomes can be received by company as well as resolve high employee turnover issue. Thus,
managers of SAINSBURY recruits talented and skilled candidates for the specified posts
accordingly company’s demands. While leaders adapt situational leadership to deal with labour
turnover. they understand new joiners needs and make them highly competent like existing
employees in the workplace through which company can gain high growth on proposed revenue
scale.
 Performance management Situation
It is another function of the managers that uses to make individuals proactive and versatile in the
workplace. Before organizing performance management strategy, managers adapt contempory
management theory to identify different talents among existing talents who can bring
productivity in the business (Wu, 2016). Then managers conduct performance management
strategy in the company for improving individuals working performance (Faruk and et.al., 2018).
While leaders have roles in this approach to learn individuals’ new skills and tactics which
improves their professional personality and monitors their performance at critical level for
identifying weak areas of individuals and reports to managers instantly. Thus, both managers and
leaders of the SAINSBURY leads strength in the workforce and maintains their wellbeing as
well.
 Change management
Change management is the effective approach or function of the managers that keeps company
flexible with changes as well as employees. With this approach managers enables to reduce risk
and increases goodwill of the company in the international market. For example, SAINSBURY

Group plc were facing economical loss due to constant changes in new technologies which
directly impact on profit margin scale. Therefore, managers followed contingency management
theory in order to lead change in existing strategies and policies such as bring change in existing
technologies which ultimately improves product quality and working efficiency of individuals.
On the other hand, leaders encourage existing staff to use their skill while dealing with different
tasks in the workplace. Thus, mangers and leaders assist SAINSBURY to stay long in the
different situations.
P3 Critically evaluate different models and theories
There are numerous type leadership models i.e. contingency and theories are situational and
system etc. that directly and indirectly impacts on operation management in the SAINSBURY
plc.
 System leadership
A set of action or skills that practises by managers or leaders to maintain control on business
operations and its productivity in the business market. This leadership theory contains two type
leaderships i.e. system and collaborative leadership style. System leadership style supports to
keep control on different functional units and keeps updated about business situation time to time
so that they work in precise manner as per the company’s needs (Gurr and Drysdale, 2018). For
example, SAINSBURY requires to lead change in the existing operations of company so
managers implement different strategies for declining hike cost of technology as resulted
company enables to generate high profit margin on it’s wide product line. Thus, with this
leadership style company has enabled to bring innovation in the existing product segments which
enhance selling revenue of business. But this leadership theory is highly time-consuming for
implementation purpose.
 Situational leadership style
Situational leadership theory is the leadership style that supports leaders or managers to adjust
different leadership styles in such manner which can fit as per the business situation and
promotes group of people to work in right direction. This leadership theory comprises four type
leadership styles such as telling, coaching, participating and delegating. In this leadership theory,
managers or leaders adapts different leadership styles as per the organization and employees

needs so that they can adequately encourage individuals to work productively so that maximum
profitability can be received by company (Kulkarni, 2017). As same scenario with SAINSBURY
whereas operation management follows this leadership theory in order to deal with different
organizational situations through different leadership styles. For example, currently
SAINSBURY Group is facing an issue that is related to technology cost. So, operation managers
implement this leadership theory and turns this issue in profitability through delegating and
coaching leadership styles. However, this leadership theory has some limitations i.e. it requires
high understanding of leaders and managers then they can identify situation and adjust leadership
style.
 Contingency theory
Contingency theory is a dynamic approach that allows managers to bring change in existing
policies as per the situation. So, it is also known as organizational theory. It encourages
managers to enhance existing leadership skills and decision-making skills. This management
theory gives high contribution to make leaders or managers multitasker who can adapt their
effective leadership skills at different areas. Managers of SAINSBURY often practice this theory
whenever they develop management objectives and goals which directs individuals in right
direction and reduces operational issues. Apart from this, a contingent leaders or managers
involves number of employees in the decision-making process and listen their views carefully
which makes them feel valuable part of the company. This initiative helps management to build
strong relationship between employer and employees (Maamari and Majdalani, 2017). The major
limitation of the leadership style is that it often leads uncertainty in leadership roles because no
one is perfect in all contexts.
LO3
P4 Approaches of operation management in company
There are various approach operation management which they use to deal with different
situation of SAINSBURY plc. Approaches are:
Just in time inventory

This method is designed to concentrate on production process. it is a strategic approach
that is practised by operation managers for maintaining inventory in efficient quantity so that
company can fulfil demands of targeted audience. With this approach, managers also support in
reducing high wastage of resources and directs other functional units of company to use them
wisely so that maximum profitability can be obtained (Mayfield and Mayfield, 2016). While
leaders help staff to use available in effective manner by offering training session wherein make
them understand how to deal with different situations by picking right resource. This approach
focuses on production process only instead of output quantity due to this productivity of products
declines and company unable to provide high availability of products on it’s different stores that
is one of the major drawback of the approach.
Lean manufacturing
It is another approach of operation that is used to reduce waste in manufacturing without
compromising productivity of products as well as quality. Managers plays effective role in the
company with this approach such as they save costs of the products by maintaining productivity.
On the other hand, leaders also support managers by offering training session and make them
understand how to store valuable products while reducing wastage. As resulted company gets
high productivity of goods and enables to invest saved funds (from wastage reduce) in other
business activities in effective manner.
Total Quality Management (TQM)
It is second approach of operation management that brings competitive advantage as well
as high profitability in the business from it’s existing competitors. The main goal of this
approach is to generate high profit in the business in predefined period. Operation managers of
the SAINSBURY Group plc implement this approach in their practises to maintain standard of
the workforce in the company which directly improves profitability of business. With this
approach, company enable to maintain standard of products in the business market which
improves level of satisfaction in customers and maximizes profit margin of each product in
exchange. However, to implement this approach requires to have high understanding and
expertise in managers then company can achieve framed objectives within timeframe.
Role of managers

Managers plays effective role in the company such as they recruit right talent for the right
post. Managers has major goal of their recruitment strategy is to hire right workforce and puts
them at right place so that individuals can enable to give productivity in their working through
their skills and potentials (Roda and Macchi, 2016). However, managers keep control all
business activities or operations which are performed by different functional units so that
company can achieves it’s all propose objectives on time.
Roles of leaders
Leaders plays different roles in the company i.e. motivating, training, supporting
managers, supervising, develop vision and directs weak employees. The main objective of the
leaders is to understand individuals needs and demands for the workplace and these factors acts
as motivating factor for them. Manager of SAINSBURY provides them creatives working
environment with sitting arrangement that maintains individual’s wellbeing encourages them to
come office and work hardly in the company. They also provide training session for the staff to
coordinate all new joiners and existing one towards common goal.
P5 Significance and values of operational management to gain objectives of business
Operational management is the management approach that practises by company to
maintain quality of products and supply them to customer proficiently. Operation managers
supports organization to transform raw material into final outputs through which leads level of
satisfaction in customers. The main objective of the SAINSBURY is to earn maximum profit
margin by providing high standard products and services to the targeted audience. So, it is
illustrated that there has high level of important and values of operation management in the
SAINSBURY plc to gain its framed goals and objectives as mentioned below:
 Increase profitability
Operational managers of the SAINSBURY plc play essential role in the company because they
always concern for organizational performance and productivity (Samul, 2020). So, managers
always maintain standard of existing product segments and mew product segment by different
approaches like lean manufacturing, TQM, JIT etc. through which company enables to improve
its market share and selling revenue in the supermarket like Tesco. Operation managers conducts
training and development program per quarter months in the company and involves some

employee’s engagement activity so that individuals attract for participation. Even leaders of the
SAINSBURY encourage individuals to practises different approach in effective manner.
 Build strong brand image of SAINSBURY Operation managers of the Marks & Spencer
maintains effectiveness of different operations which are performed by individuals in the
workplace. To maintain effectiveness of operations takes reviews by customers and other
management by operation managers about individuals. In addition, operation
management always try to bring innovation and creativity in the workplace by applying
different different approaches like continuous improvement approach (kaizen), training
and development sessions etc. which creates brain storming in individuals due to this
SAINSBURY has counted in top supermarket companies in UK. On the hand, leaders
play significant role in operation management’s sting operation such as they coordinate
all different talents in the workplace towards common goal. that’s why company enabled
to gain its framed objective in modern era.
P6 Different factors of business environment that impacts on operation management and
decision-making process of leaders and managers
Pestle analysis
It is a strategic framework that is used to analyse external environment of the business.
This model is applied for Sainsbury to analyse it’s impact on the manager and leaders decision-
making process (What is PESTLE Analysis? A Tool for Business Analysis. 2020). It comprises
six external factors which are mentioned as follows:
Political factors: Brexit has brought various change in political and trading policy that directly
impact on supermarket companies’ performance and operations. For example, operation
management has decided to implement lean manufacturing approach in the company for
reducing wastage so that Sainsbury can sell large amount product in multiple countries that
ultimately improves sales revenue of the business. But operation managers gets negative impact
on their decision because company have to trade rule means company have to pay high tax
while selling products in nearby countries.

Economical factor: limited presence of skilled suppliers is one of the major economic factors.
Operation management has plan to buy high quality products at lower costs so that company
enables to gain high profit margin on each product. but it gets negative impact on it’s decision-
making process because skilled suppliers are too limited in the UK market.
Social factors: Demographical change is the social factor. Operation manager has planned to
offer best quality products with wide variety. So, leaders trains individuals to give high customer
services. As resulted operation managers and leaders get positive impact on their decision
because company enables to improve buying behaviour of customers.
Technological factors: Emerging technology like RFID, JIT, TQM etc is the technological factor.
Operation manager has decided to adapt new technology or approaches for improving level of
quality in existing product segment. So, leaders conduct technical skill program for improving
technical skills in individuals. Emerging technology brings positive impact on product quality as
well as organization performance.
Legal factor: Workplace act, promotes eco-friendly products etc. are legal factors. Operation
managers of the Sainsbury’s has planned to bring eco-friendly product segment. While leaders
encourage employees to support manager to implement this decision in reality. This legal factor
stimulates organization growth by influencing leaders and managers decision-making process.
Environmental factor: Environment safety is environmental factor. Operation manager takes
decision to practise six-sigma model for reducing wastage without compromising quality and
productivity of products. While leaders encourage employees to work in team for implementing
this decision successfully. This decision promotes by government also because it ultimately
reduces environmental crisis.
There are fewer factors such as organization culture, structure, stakeholder’s satisfaction, ethical
practises and availability of resources which influences working efficiency of operation
management of SAINSBURY plc. However, operational mangers and leaders takes decision
together because these are dependent on external factors. Thus, they implement decisions in
order to lead sustainable business performance in the business sector. Factors are:

 Organizational Culture
Organization culture factor plays effective role in the organization success. SAINSBURY’s
organizational culture is quite effective as compared others because it promotes teamworking
and open communication in the workplace which is the major reason of organization’s goodwill
in the business market. Operation management is responsible for conducting different operations
in the workplace so they always try to develop such working environment which ultimately
motivates individuals for brain storming (Saucedo-Martínez and et.al., 2018). Leaders also
ensures individuals that they are not discriminated in the workplace and allows them to share
their innovative idea with other team members and manager which often brings profitability in
the business performance and profitability. Managers and leaders work together in the
SAINSBURY whenever takes effective decision to keep hope that they get profitable outcomes.
 Availability of resources
Operation managers of the SAINSBURY keeps control on utilization of available resources as
well as cross checks that efficient resources are available in the company or not, so that staff can
use them as per the situation without delaying. If manager finds out that resource are limited in
the market then they seek alternatives and apply effective tactics like declining wastage of
resources for maintaining quality of the finished products or services (Waldman, Siegel and
Stahl, 2020). In this scenario leaders also play effective role such as they allocate limited
resources and provides training to the staff how to utilize limited resources in efficient manner
which brings sustainability in business profitability.
 Development in technology
This factor impacts on operation management as well as managers and leader’s decision-making
such as operation management of SAINSBURY have to change existing technology as per the
current market trends through which company can achieve competitive advantage and improves
customer’s experience. For example, currently online shopping is highly famous in the retail
market so, operation management introduces some emerging technology so that maximum profit
can be received by company (Walls, 2019). In this scenario, leaders support operation managers
to encourage individuals to learn new techniques and improves their technical skills as resulted

operation management enables to improve selling revenue of the business as well as captures
high market share like Tesco on it’s certain products.
CONCLUSION
It has been summarized about different roles and responsibilities of managers and leaders
in the company. this report has concluded various theories and models i.e. situational;
contingency and system leadership have implemented in the SAINSBURY through leaders and
managers in different situational contexts. Importance of operational managers and leaders in the
company i.e. management functions have improved organization’s productivity and performance
through which goodwill of the business has increased which can be summarized in this report. It
discussed over different functions of operational managers and leaders that practised to deal with
different complex situations. In last this report has been provided brief understanding about
different vales of operational management in the success of SAINSBURY objectives.

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